Ronin

Discuss releases from Arrow and the films on them

Moderators: MichaelB, yoloswegmaster

Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
domino harvey
Dot Com Dom
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm

Ronin

#1 Post by domino harvey » Fri May 12, 2017 10:39 am

Image

RONIN. Noun, historical. A samurai who no longer serves a daimyo, or feudal lord.

From director John Frankenheimer (Reindeer Games, The Manchurian Candidate) comes Ronin, a pulse-pounding, action-packed crime thriller featuring an all-star cast headlined by Robert De Niro (Taxi Driver, Heat) and Jean Reno (Léon: The Professional).

On a rain-swept night in Paris, an international crack team of professional thieves assembles, summoned by a shady crime syndicate fronted by the enigmatic Deirdre (Natascha McElhone, The Devil’s Own). Their mission: to steal a heavily guarded briefcase from armed mobsters, its contents undisclosed. But what begins as a routine heist soon spirals into chaos, with the group beset by a series of double-crosses and constantly shifting allegiances, and it falls to world-weary former CIA strategist Sam (De Niro) and laconic Frenchman Vincent (Reno) to hold the mission together.

A latter-day return to form for Frankenheimer, the film evokes the same gritty milieu as classic 70s crime fare like The French Connection, in addition to anticipating the early 21st century trend towards more grounded, realistic action movies, exemplified by the likes of the Bourne franchise. Arrow Video is proud to present Ronin in a brand new, cinematographer-approved 4K restoration, allowing this jewel in the crown of 90s thriller cinema to shine like never before.

CONTENTS
  • Brand new 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative produced by Arrow Video exclusively for this release, supervised and approved by director of photography Robert Fraisse
  • High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
  • Original English 5.1 audio (lossless on the Blu-ray Disc)
  • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • Audio commentary by director John Frankenheimer
  • Brand new video interview with director of photography Robert Fraisse
  • Paul Joyce documentary on Robert De Niro
  • Ronin: Filming in the Fast Lane, an archival behind-the-scenes featurette
  • Through the Lens, an archival interview with Robert Fraisse
  • The Driving of Ronin, an archival featurette on the film s legendary car stunts
  • Natascha McElhone: An Actor s Process, an archival interview with the actress
  • Composing the Ronin Score, an archival interview with composer Elia Cmiral
  • In the Ronin Cutting Room, an archival interview with editor Tony Gibbs
  • Venice Film Festival interviews with Robert De Niro, Jean Reno and Natascha McElhone
  • Alternate ending
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector s booklet illustrated by Chris Malbon, featuring new writing on the film by critic Travis Crawford

User avatar
domino harvey
Dot Com Dom
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm

Re: Ronin

#2 Post by domino harvey » Fri May 12, 2017 11:11 am

No extras with Mamet, too bad. I'd love to hear him talk about this in the context of his overall script doctoring work

Emilio
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2009 8:38 am

Re: Ronin

#3 Post by Emilio » Fri May 12, 2017 12:10 pm

Still, an unexpected surprise!!

User avatar
swo17
Bloodthirsty Butcher
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
Location: SLC, UT

Re: Ronin

#4 Post by swo17 » Fri May 12, 2017 12:25 pm


User avatar
jazzo
Joined: Sun Nov 17, 2013 12:02 am

Re: Ronin

#5 Post by jazzo » Fri May 12, 2017 1:55 pm

I know RONIN has its fans, and I haven't seen it since the theatrical release, but am I wrong in remembering that every second of this was terrible? I'm being serious. Upon re-watchings, my opinion on films evolve all the time, but I sincerely can't remember anything in this film that makes me think, oh maybe I was wrong.

User avatar
knives
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm

Re: Ronin

#6 Post by knives » Fri May 12, 2017 3:49 pm

I wouldn't go as far as terrible, but definitely not good.

calculus entrophy
Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:32 am

Re: Ronin

#7 Post by calculus entrophy » Fri May 12, 2017 4:02 pm

I'm going to go ahead and admit that there are a couple times a year that I need to watch a 7 minute Frankenheimer car chase through Paris with 150 stunts, 300 stunt drivers and 2000 extras. I'm not proud, its probably an LA driver catharsis.

User avatar
PianoMan88
Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2016 4:50 am
Location: Toronto, ON

Re: Ronin

#8 Post by PianoMan88 » Fri May 12, 2017 4:18 pm

I may be in the minority (although it still has a 7.3 rating on IMDb), but I really enjoyed Ronin on first viewing many years ago. On second viewing it wasn't as exciting as I remembered but still a very good film. Having stars such as De Niro and Reno in the cast helps, and the car chase scenes in Nice, France are great (even by modern standards).

I have to say I am pleasantly surprised Arrow have been able to pick up what I would consider as a fairly high-profile, big budget film. It will be a purchase I really look forward to!!

calculus entrophy
Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:32 am

Re: Ronin

#9 Post by calculus entrophy » Fri May 12, 2017 4:47 pm

I would have as well if I hadn't finally picked up the current blu ray about 20 days ago after holding off for years. First world problems.....

User avatar
Morbii
Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2004 3:38 am

Re: Ronin

#10 Post by Morbii » Fri May 12, 2017 11:42 pm

Yeah, I very recently picked it up too. Otherwise they could have signed me up as well.

User avatar
DarkImbecile
Ask me about my visible cat breasts
Joined: Mon Dec 09, 2013 6:24 pm
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Re: Ronin

#11 Post by DarkImbecile » Sat May 13, 2017 9:20 am

I'm generally opposed to George Lucas-style CGI revisionism, but there's a shot near the beginning of the main car chase when a car or two is spinning their wheels and produce the fakest looking late-90s-CGI tire smoke ever seen. If they were to advertise that they'd cleaned that up, I'd have to consider being flexible on my principles.

User avatar
Banasa
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2015 12:35 am

Re: Ronin

#12 Post by Banasa » Sun May 14, 2017 9:46 am

if its as bad as you say I'd be against adding anything to replace it.

There is this notorious one from Twin Peaks where Maddy sees Bob in a carpet. In the home video versions I have seen, you see everything except Bob.

Other folks see this "look what I can do with a computer!" imagery

User avatar
swo17
Bloodthirsty Butcher
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
Location: SLC, UT

Re: Ronin

#13 Post by swo17 » Sun May 14, 2017 11:32 am

These things need to stay put so we NEVER FORGET.

User avatar
med
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:58 pm

Re: Ronin

#14 Post by med » Sun May 14, 2017 1:07 pm

DarkImbecile wrote:I'm generally opposed to George Lucas-style CGI revisionism, but there's a shot near the beginning of the main car chase when a car or two is spinning their wheels and produce the fakest looking late-90s-CGI tire smoke ever seen. If they were to advertise that they'd cleaned that up, I'd have to consider being flexible on my principles.
NOW WITH REALISTIC TIRE SMOKE would look great on a sticker.

calculus entrophy
Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:32 am

Re: Ronin

#15 Post by calculus entrophy » Sun May 14, 2017 3:04 pm

I'm concerned it would bring a whole new meaning to the tire smoke. Perhaps the newest generation would relate to the theme of smoking tires, but it would turn off a generation that felt a certain nostalgia for the tires smoking the old fashioned way.

Many (and I am one) revered the notion that the tires were part of a broader cultural zeitgeist of inauthentic tire smoking as it represented falseness of authority, and an alienation from properly smoking tires.

And let's not start the argument about whether the tires smoked first, or whether the smoke started before the tires.

User avatar
DarkImbecile
Ask me about my visible cat breasts
Joined: Mon Dec 09, 2013 6:24 pm
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Re: Ronin

#16 Post by DarkImbecile » Sun May 14, 2017 3:17 pm

Clearly there just needs to be two versions of the film included in the release, and then everyone can choose sides and bicker about which better represents the director's intent; seems ripe for a couple of bonus features and maybe a commentary track as well.

calculus entrophy
Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:32 am

Re: Ronin

#17 Post by calculus entrophy » Sun May 14, 2017 3:31 pm

Agreed, at least for a start. But do we really have two completely different movies at this point? Can it hardly even be called Ronin once Frankenheimer's vision is so wildly bifurcated?

Tuco
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:57 pm
Location: Twin Cities, MN

Re: Ronin

#18 Post by Tuco » Mon May 15, 2017 12:43 am

Hey, everybody, smoking is bad for people as well as tires.

Zot!
Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:09 am

Re: Ronin

#19 Post by Zot! » Mon May 15, 2017 3:31 am

This reminds me that Casino starts off with an absolutely horrific jump cut to try to hide that the driver of a car which explodes is replaced with a dummy. I hope Scorsese was being intentionally derisive, because it is a miserable excuse for a practical effect.

User avatar
DFR
Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2015 4:19 pm
Location: Minnesota
Contact:

Re: Ronin

#20 Post by DFR » Mon May 15, 2017 11:46 am

Sure, there are some clumsy things about this film, like the narration at the end or the romance subplot. For me, the film is worth it for the Mametspeak embedded into the shorthand spy jargon, especially in the subplot involving Sean Bean's all-talk IRA soldier. That could have been a very silly plot development where he returns at the end to settle a score; however, the film just makes an example out of Bean's character and dismisses him. I really respected that choice.

calculus entrophy
Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:32 am

Re: Ronin

#21 Post by calculus entrophy » Mon May 15, 2017 12:12 pm

Yes, I agree. And also I like how De Niro is played more realistically as can be done in a Hollywood action film, where he has a quietness about himself because he's the real deal (as well as Jonathan Pryce), i.e. loudness is phoniness.

User avatar
jazzo
Joined: Sun Nov 17, 2013 12:02 am

Re: Ronin

#22 Post by jazzo » Mon May 15, 2017 3:08 pm

Guess I'll just have to watch it again, but I seem to remember everything about it rubbing me the wrong way, including the much-heralded car chase, which always struck me as overly-staged and false (especially in comparison to something like The French Connection, or even Frankenheimer's own, less-successful-but-still-superior-to-this French Connection II), where all the on-coming cars, for example, were perfectly spaced apart to allow for very convenient zig-zagging. I know that's an action movie trope and you just kinda-hafta go with it, but it's still a trope.

The plot and depth of character all felt very much the same to me; convenient and unthrilling in their zig-zagging.

But like I said, I'm often wrong, even in my own mind.

calculus entrophy
Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:32 am

Re: Ronin

#23 Post by calculus entrophy » Mon May 15, 2017 3:33 pm

No, that's fair. This is definitely well-heeled trope, but its pedigree makes it less irritating, sometimes even charming trope all the same.

User avatar
cdnchris
Site Admin
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:45 pm
Location: Washington
Contact:

Re: Ronin

#24 Post by cdnchris » Mon May 15, 2017 3:56 pm

I liked this one as well. My brother and I caught it on a whim at the theater. We hadn't even heard of it but saw the poster with De Niro and Reno. Then seeing the rest of the cast in the poster credits and that Frankenheimer directed it we thought "why the hell not" and bought tickets. I think I agree with all of the criticisms against it but I still had fun and thought the car chases were great. I also liked the throwaway Bean subplot and the interactions between Reno and De Niro. I also liked the (fairly obvious, admittedly) plotting and Skarsgard's performance at the end
SpoilerShow
when he slowly realizes he may not have clearly thought through how he was going to sell the case.
I haven't watched it in a while so I'm looking forward to this.

I think this a big coup for Arrow, though. I recall it being very popular on video, at least with those around me, so I hope it's a decent seller for them.

User avatar
tenia
Ask Me About My Bassoon
Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:13 am

Re: Ronin

#25 Post by tenia » Sun Oct 08, 2017 9:38 am

I watched for the first time the movie through the Arrow BD, and it turned out to be relatively good, while still having obvious flaws.
First, it's that despite the visible care given to the movie local setup and identities, it's still feel a Hollywood studio movie : oh it's in France ? Let's have people drink coffee on-screen every 10 minutes !
Let's still have obvious implausible journeys between 2 points (I still have no idea how they join from the villa to the Vieux Nice the way it's shown in the movie) ! Let's have Irish accents but use Scottish expression. And how Skasgard end up a story up in the Arles' arena ??
It's also a particularly convoluted movie, with lots and lots of exposition for not so much action sequences. Sure, you have a 7 min car chase, but you also have Reno and De Niro sitting in a bar drinking coffee for as much time.

Still, it felt slick and old school and efficient, because the talent in front of and behind the camera are showing, even if the script isn't always perfect, even if the movie is too complex for its own good, even if it ends up being too long. I always heard about the movie being pretty much terrible and it certainly was much better than this reputation, though it certainly is far from being a masterpiece. I especially liked how it never felt like it was over-doing things : it's not overly leaning on death shots, secondary characters aren't shown in a extremely obvious manner (I had to go back in the movie to remember who was that guy in the crowd pointing Pryce out at the very end). It doesn't make it easy for the viewer.

Post Reply